Egg-case



(No Model.)

M. E. GHAMB'BRLAIN.

BGG CASE.

Patented July 28, 18.96.

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UNITED I STATES! PATENT OFFICEa MINOR E. CIIAMBERLAIN, OF LEBANON, MISSOURI.

EGG-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,914, dated July 2s, 189e. Application nea June 3,1896. stanno. 594,12oi. (No model.)

To @ZL whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MINOR E. CHAMBER- LAIN, of Lebanon, in the county of Laclede and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in folding crates, and it has for its object the production of a simple and inexpensive crate which is strong and durable and which can be readily and easily folded up, so as to occupy but a minimum amount of space.

The invention comprises a knockdown crate having hinged or pivoted ends and sides designed to fold down one upon another, means for holding said ends and sides in fixed relation, and a cover for said crate both when opened and closed, the same being provided with two hinged catches for engaging projections of the crate, one of said catches having a sliding section for locking the same to the projection with which it is in engagement, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of the crate with its parts opened, the cover being removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line c; Fig. 1, with cover iu position. Fig. 3 is a view of the crate closed. Fig. 4 is a view on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows the form of catches employed.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the crate proper, and a a the sides thereof, each side being composed of a stationary section a2 and a pivoted or hinged section a3. The stationary section a2 of side a is wider or of greater height than the corresponding section of the other side.

B B' designate the end sections, which are hinged or pivoted at their lower ends, and from their side edges project dowel-pins b, which t in corresponding holes in bars b', attached to the ends of the sides a a. To

these bars are connected staples b2, with which are designed to engage hooks C, pivoted to the end sections B.

D is an intermediate partition having lower shoulders d, designed to iit beneath central bars d', attached to the pivoted side sections, and also having dowcl-pins d2, designed to enter holes in said central bars.

The cover E is provided with depending sides and ends, and to the latter are connected hinged catches e e". The catch c has a bayonet hole or slot e2 therein for engagement with a headed lug or projection c3, attached to the pivoted end B or to a similar projection e4 near the bottom of the crate. The hinged catch e' is designed to engage either of the projections e5 c in the other end of the crate. This catch has a circular hole therein and on its outer side is a movable or sliding section F, having jaws f, and held to its place by overlapping edges f'. This section has a ledge or projection f2, and whenl lowered or moved downward the jaws hug opposite sides of the headed lug or projection and prevent the catch from becoming accidentally loosened or disengaged without rst raising the sliding section.

In practice when the sides and ends are locked in position the paper partitions G and the eggs (or other articles) to be shipped are placed in the two compartments of the crate and the cover is locked in position, the crate then being ready for shipment. For return service, after the eggs have been removed the partition D is placed on the bottom of one compartment, and the intermediate layers of paper g are placed on the bottom of the other compartment and the partitions G are folded and placed lengthwise of both compartments. The end sections are then lowered down into horizontal position and then the side sections, the section a being closed down upon the other section a. The cover is then placed over the top of the knockeddown crate and locked in place. The crate can then be shipped back to its original shippin g-point.

IOO

capacity ,k While at the same time occupying doWel-.pins extending from said partition into but a minimum amount of space when closed the holes of said central bars, hooks connector folded.

I claim as my invention- The herein-described crate having hinged or pivoted sides provided at their ends. and centers with bars b vhaving holes therein, hinged end sections having doWel-pins for itting the holes in said end bars, a central partition having lower shoulders at its ends designed to it beneath said central bars,

ing said end sections to said sides, and the cover having catches at its ends, one of which 15 is provided with a sliding locking-section, substantially asset forth.

MINOR E. CHAMBERLAIN.

lVitnesses:

S. A. SHIPMAN, W. D. NOEL. 

